Tag: widebody

Flight Report: EVA AIR BR 5 – Los Angeles to Taipei – Excellent 14-Hour Transpacific Journey Back to Taiwan [April 2025]

Last April, my friends and I flew to Los Angeles, California, for a week-long trip to the United States. My friend’s family showed us around and brought us to the city’s well-known spots and attractions. We had planned this trip since August 2024, right after securing our plane tickets through a random credit card promotion.

We flew with EVA Air both ways. In my previous flight reports, I shared how our Manila to Taipei and Taipei to Los Angeles flights went. Today, I will talk about our BR 5 flight from Los Angeles to Taipei. Spoiler alert, it was an excellent journey. Let me share the specific highlights that made this flight stand out.

EVA Air

EVA Air is a privately owned international airline based at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. It was founded in March 1989 by Chang Yung-fa, the Chairman of the Evergreen Group, and began commercial operations in July 1991, initially serving selected destinations in Southeast Asia and South Korea. Fast forward to 2025, the airline now flies to nearly 60 destinations across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America, operating a fleet of more than 80 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with around 50 additional aircraft on order.

Over the years, EVA Air has expanded beyond its core passenger airline business. It launched its dedicated cargo division, EVA Air Cargo, and has since ventured into airline catering, ground handling, and aviation engineering services. The airline also owns UNI Air, a Kaohsiung-based subsidiary that operates domestic flights within Taiwan and regional routes to destinations like Macau and China.

EVA Air is a world-renowned five-star full-service airline. It offers complimentary checked baggage allowance, meals and snacks, inflight entertainment systems, and premium onboard amenities. As a proud member of the Star Alliance network, EVA partners with leading global carriers such as Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, and many more. It also operates a frequent flyer program called Infinity MileageLands.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

My friends and I secured our plane tickets as early as August 2024. We took advantage of the promotion offered by EVA Air and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) at the time and purchased our tickets for only USD 709.76 each. We were charged ₱42,276.32 per person, which already included the foreign transaction fee.

This USD 710 roundtrip fare covered all four flight sectors: Manila to Taipei, Taipei to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Taipei (this flight), and Taipei to Manila. The fare included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 2 pieces of checked baggage at 23 kilograms each, inflight meals on every sector, personal entertainment screens on all aircraft, and the 5-star service that EVA Air cabin crew is known for.

The return ticket we secured was an absolute steal considering everything that was included and the overall experience across all flights. It was worth every peso spent with EVA Air.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders can enter Taiwan without a visa for up to 14 days, provided they can show proof of accommodation and sufficient travel funds. As of July 2025, this visa free entry policy has been extended until July 31, 2026.

In my case, since my onward destination was Manila, I needed to comply with the Philippines entry requirements. Philippine passport holders only need to present a valid passport and their eTravel QR code when entering the country. Non-Philippine passport holders may be asked to provide additional documents, such as a valid visa or proof of onward travel.

Entry requirements differ depending on nationality, so it is always best to check with the appropriate authorities for the latest guidelines before your trip.

I shared my do-it-yourself U.S. visa application journey in a previous Tuesday Tips post, which you can check out here.

Before The Flight

A few days before the flight, EVA Air sent an email offering an upgrade to premium economy through its EVABidDeals program. This feature allowed me to place a bid for a premium economy seat, starting at a preset minimum amount.

48 hours before departure, EVA Air sent a reminder that online check in was already open. The message included important details such as the flight schedule, cabin and seat assignment, baggage allowance, and aircraft type. I filled out the required information, chose my seat, and checked in for our flight to Taipei right away.

Seat selection for our onward Taipei to Manila flight was not yet available during this check in process. We could only change our assigned seats exactly 48 hours before that flight.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Our Los Angeles to Taipei flight with EVA Air was operated by an 8.9-year-old Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at the time of travel. Delivered to the airline in June 2016, the aircraft is registered as B-16727. It is configured with 39 lie flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 56 recliner style premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 standard economy class seats arranged in a 3-3-3 layout.

Flight BR 5 departed from Los Angeles International Airport at 11:50 a.m., cruised at an altitude of 34,000 feet, and landed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport the following day at 5:10 p.m. local time. There is a 15-hour time difference between Los Angeles and Taipei. The total flight time was 14 hours and 20 minutes.

Airport & Ground Experience

EVA Air operates its flights out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

EVA Air’s check in counters opened at 8:15 a.m., exactly 3.5 hours before the flight. The counters were divided into several groups: regular check in with two counters, bag drop with three counters, business class and priority check in with two counters, and a dedicated counter for Diamond members.

My friends and I arrived at the airport just in time for check in. We lined up at the bag drop area and completed the entire process in about 25 minutes. Ironically, the regular check in line moved faster than the bag drop queue.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After dropping off our bags, my friends and I cleared immigration and the final security check. We also stopped by the airport food court to grab some snacks before heading to our boarding gate. After finishing our meal, we walked to our assigned gate, Gate 157, to wait for boarding.

BOARDING

At 10:25 a.m., the ground staff began checking passengers’ passports and boarding passes. Priority boarding was announced 20 minutes later, at 10:45 a.m. EVA Air boards passengers according to zones, and zone boarding began at 10:55 a.m. Economy class passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft boarded first.

Our group, Group 5, was among the last to board. The aircraft doors were closed at 11:20 a.m., completing the boarding process in 35 minutes. The plane pushed back at 11:33 a.m. and began taxiing to the runway for its 11:50 a.m. take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Los Angeles to Taipei flight was operated by an 8.9-year-old Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft featured 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 56 recliner-style premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 standard economy seats arranged in a 3-3-3 setup.

According to SeatGuru, each lie-flat business class (Royal Laurel Class) seat offers a seat pitch of 81 inches and a seat width of 26 inches. All seats come equipped with a 15.4-inch touchscreen display with remote control, multiple storage compartments, a footrest, a universal power outlet, USB-A ports, a side console, noise-cancelling headphones, an individual reading light, and, most importantly, aisle access.

Each premium economy seat provides a seat pitch of 38 inches, a seat width of 19.3 inches, and a recline of 5 inches. Amenities include an 11-inch touchscreen system with remote control, an adjustable headrest, thick seatback padding, a bi-fold tray table, a universal power outlet, an individual USB-A port, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight literature.

Economy class seats offer a seat pitch of 31 to 32 inches, a seat width of 17 inches, and a recline of 3 inches. Each seat features a 10-inch touchscreen system, a bi-fold tray table, an adjustable headrest, a leg rest, an individual USB-A port, shared universal power outlets, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight safety cards and magazines. Amenities such as dental kits and slippers were available upon request. Notably, this aircraft does not have individual air vents.

For this 14.5-hour transpacific flight, I chose middle aisle seat 48D in the forward economy cabin. The seat was thin but comfortable enough for such a long journey. It came with a small pillow, a blanket, and headphones, and offered decent legroom and recline. I managed to sleep for a few hours, even though the passenger behind me occasionally his my knees. The only feature I wished it had was an individual air nozzle, although the cabin remained cool throughout the flight.

INFLIGHT MEAL SERVICE

EVA Air serves complimentary meals on all its flights. On this long transpacific journey back to Taipei, the airline provided two main meals and unlimited snacks in between.

Lunch service began as soon as the aircraft reached its cruising altitude. The crew first distributed mixed nuts, rice crackers, and a drink of choice as refreshments. Once the initial service was complete, they returned with the main lunch trays.

For the main course, passengers could choose between BBQ Pork Shoulder with Mac and Cheese or Stir Fried Chicken Noodles. Each tray also included Smoked Turkey and Mixed Beans Salad as an appetizer, seasonal fruits, a slice of Carrot Cake for dessert, a bread roll with butter, and a drink of choice. Meals were served on trays with metal cutlery, a napkin, and a sanitizing wipe. During the service, the crew also offered coffee or tea, followed by bottled water for each passenger.

About 6.5 hours into the flight, the cabin crew offered ham and cheese sandwiches as snacks. They also passed through the cabin several times offering mixed nuts, rice crackers, fruits, and drinks to passengers who were awake. Additional snacks and drinks were available in the galley throughout the journey.

Two hours before landing, the crew served the second main meal. The options were Prawns with Creamy Spinach Orzo or Fried Rice with Beef and Kimchi. Each meal came with a ham and cheese salad, seasonal fruits, a bread roll with butter, and a drink of choice. As with lunch, the meal was served with metal cutlery, a napkin, and a wipe. A second round of coffee and tea was also offered.

I chose the BBQ Pork Shoulder with Mac and Cheese for lunch and the Fried Rice with Beef and Kimchi for the second meal, pairing both with apple juice. Both meals were filling, though I preferred the lunch option over the second one. I also noticed that the airline had enough cabin crew onboard, which made the meal service fast and efficient.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All seats on this Boeing 777-300ER were equipped with touchscreen personal entertainment screens featuring EVA Air’s Starhill Gallery. The system offered hundreds of movies, TV shows, music albums, games, and other content to keep passengers entertained throughout the flight. It also included an interactive inflight map showing the aircraft’s current location and detailed flight information.

While the entertainment selection was sufficient for this long flight, it is not comparable to the premium systems offered by airlines such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. Additionally, the screens did not display onward flight or gate information for passengers with connecting EVA Air flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

This aircraft was equipped with inflight wireless internet. At the time of the flight, EVA Air offered all passengers 30 minutes of complimentary access. After the free period, paid internet plans were available, ranging from US$4.95 to US$39.95, depending on the package.

I used the complimentary access midway through the flight. The connection speed was decent and sufficient for exchanging messages with my family in the Philippines. I chose not to purchase a plan, as I did not find it necessary for the remainder of the flight.

LAVATORY

I used the forward economy class lavatories several times during the flight and consistently found them clean and pleasantly scented. Despite the frequent use, the cabin crew ensured the facilities were well-maintained throughout the journey.

Beyond the standard amenities, EVA Air also offered Teaology-branded handwash, hand sanitizer, facial mist, and moisturizer for passenger use. Dental kits were available upon request from the crew.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this Los Angeles–Taipei flight were quick, efficient, and attentive. They greeted passengers warmly during boarding and managed the main meal services smoothly. They also maintained clean and fresh lavatories throughout the flight. In addition, the lead crew made clear announcements in both English and Chinese, keeping passengers well-informed at every stage of the journey.

Disembarkation & Transit

Flight BR 5 landed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 5:10 p.m. local time, arriving 15 minutes behind schedule. Passengers disembarked by section, with business class passengers exiting first, followed by those in the front economy section, and finally, passengers seated in the rear economy cabin.

My friends and I did not clear Taiwan immigration. Instead, we proceeded to the transit area and made our way to the departures hall for my connecting flight to Manila.

Flight Experience

It was an excellent 14.5-hour flight with EVA Air from Los Angeles, California, back to Taipei, Taiwan. My friends and I did not feel the journey was long, and we all had an enjoyable transpacific experience. Here is a breakdown of the aspects I liked and the minor discomforts I experienced.

Starting with the positives, my friends and I managed to secure an excellent fare. We paid just ₱42,276.32 each for a four-sector itinerary with layovers in Taipei in both directions. Considering that the flights were during Holy Week, one of the busiest travel seasons in the Philippines, this price was an exceptional bargain.

The airline provided two main filling meals and unlimited snacks throughout the flight, with additional snacks available at the galley at any time. EVA Air also offered all passengers 30 minutes of complimentary internet access, a thoughtful touch for a long-haul journey. The economy class lavatories were consistently clean and pleasantly scented, and the cabin crew were exceptional, efficiently completing meal services while remaining attentive and professional.

As for minor discomforts, the bag drop process, while only about 25 minutes long, moved slower than the regular economy line, which felt counterintuitive for a service designed to save time. The seats, although modern, had relatively thin padding, which sometimes became uncomfortable, especially when the knees of the passenger behind me pressed through the seatback. Another minor issue was the inflight entertainment system’s omission of onward connection details for passengers transferring to other EVA Air flights, a feature that can be helpful for connecting journeys.

Despite these small inconveniences, they did not diminish the overall experience. EVA Air provided an excellent, enjoyable, and seamless transpacific journey, and I would consider flying with them again on my next long-haul trip.

Here is a summary of this EVA Air BR 5 flight from Los Angeles to Taipei.

Airline: EVA Air
Flight Date: 19 April 2025
Flight Number: BR 5
Route: Los Angeles, California, USA (LAX) to Taipei, Taiwan (TPE)
Duration: 14 hours and 20 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 48D (Aisle)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-36N(ER)
Aircraft Registration: B-16727
Engines: 2 x General Electric GE90-115B Engines
Age: 8.9-years-old
Delivered: June 2016

All in all, this BR 5 flight with EVA Air from Los Angeles to Taipei was a highly enjoyable transpacific journey. From attentive cabin crew to comfortable seating, delicious meals, and thoughtful amenities, the experience made the long flight feel smooth and excellent.

Have you flown with EVA Air on a long-haul flight? I would love to hear about your experiences! Feel free to share your stories and thoughts in the comments below, or send them directly via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Cathay Pacific. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I’d really appreciate it if you could like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This helps expand my reach and keeps you updated with the latest blog posts, itineraries, Hostel of the Day features, and flight reports on the website. Thanks again, and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Flight Report: EVA AIR BR 6 – Taipei to Los Angeles – My First Transpacific Long-Haul Flight to LAX [April 2025]

A few months ago, my friends and I flew to Los Angeles, California for a quick Holy Week trip to the United States. We had been planning this getaway since mid-2024 and secured our tickets early. We flew with EVA Air, one of Taiwan’s leading airlines, from Manila to Los Angeles via Taipei and back.

In my previous flight report, I shared our experience on the EVA Air BR 262 Manila–Taipei leg, where we were lucky to score complimentary premium economy seats on the short hop to Taiwan’s capital. You can check out that report here. Back in 2019, I also started the flight report section on this blog with a review of EVA Air’s Taipei–Manila BR 277 service, which you can find here.

This time, let me share how our onward connection from Taipei to Los Angeles went. I will walk you through our Taipei Airport transit experience and our first transpacific long-haul flight on EVA Air’s BR 6 service.

EVA Air

EVA Air is a privately owned international airline based at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. It was founded in March 1989 by Chang Yung-fa, the Chairman of the Evergreen Group, and began commercial operations in July 1991, initially serving selected destinations in Southeast Asia and South Korea. Fast forward to 2025, the airline now flies to nearly 60 destinations across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America, operating a fleet of more than 80 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with around 50 additional aircraft on order.

Over the years, EVA Air has expanded beyond its core passenger airline business. It launched its dedicated cargo division, EVA Air Cargo, and has since ventured into airline catering, ground handling, and aviation engineering services. The airline also owns UNI Air, a Kaohsiung-based subsidiary that operates domestic flights within Taiwan and regional routes to destinations like Macau and China.

EVA Air is a world-renowned five-star full-service airline. It offers complimentary checked baggage allowance, meals and snacks, inflight entertainment systems, and premium onboard amenities. As a proud member of the Star Alliance network, EVA partners with leading global carriers such as Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, and many more. It also operates a frequent flyer program called Infinity MileageLands.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

EVA Air, in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), launched a special promotion for its credit cardholders, offering discounted fares across the airline’s network. My friends and I took advantage of this offer and booked our flights to the United States. We paid USD 709.76 each, which RCBC charged at ₱42,276.32 per person, inclusive of the foreign transaction fee.

The fare covered all four legs of our trip: Manila to Taipei, Taipei to Los Angeles (this trip), Los Angeles to Taipei, and Taipei to Manila. It also included generous benefits such as two checked bags of 23 kilograms each (46 kilograms total), 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage, inflight meals on all sectors, personal inflight entertainment on every aircraft, and the consistently excellent service of EVA Air’s cabin crew.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Filipino passport holders are required to secure a visa to enter the United States for tourism or leisure purposes. I obtained my B1/B2 non-immigrant visitor visa in December 2023. This visa allows travel to the United States and its territories for both business and tourism.

Additionally, the Philippine government requires all departing passengers to complete an online departure form and obtain a departure QR code from the eTravel website.

I shared my do-it-yourself U.S. visa application journey in a previous Tuesday Tips post, which you can check out here.

Before The Flight

As I mentioned in my BR 262 flight report, about a week before the flight EVA Air offered a premium economy upgrade through its EVABidDeal program. This system lets passengers bid for an upgrade starting from a set minimum amount. A similar offer was sent again by email four days before departure.

Forty-eight hours before the flight, EVA Air also sent a reminder that online check-in was open. The message included key details such as the flight schedule, seat and cabin assignment, baggage allowance, and aircraft type. I filled out the required information, selected my seat, and checked in for both the Taipei and Los Angeles flights. Complimentary seat selection for the Taipei–Los Angeles sector only became available exactly 48 hours before departure.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Our Taipei to Los Angeles flight with EVA Air was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER that was 8.7 years old at the time of the flight. Delivered to the airline in July 2016, the aircraft is registered as B-16728. Its cabin layout includes 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 56 recliner-style premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 standard economy seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement.

Flight BR 6 departed Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 11:28 a.m. local time, cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet, and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 8:09 a.m. local time. With Taipei 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles, this long-haul transpacific flight lasted 11 hours and 41 minutes.

Airport & Ground Experience

EVA Air operates flights out of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.

TAIPEI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Our EVA Air flight BR 262 was assigned a bus gate upon arrival in Taipei. We were transferred by bus from the aircraft to the international terminal. Once inside, we followed the signs to the transit area, cleared security, and proceeded to our assigned departure gate for Los Angeles, Gate C7.

The entire transit process took less than ten minutes from the time we entered the terminal. Quick and easy.

PRE-DEPARTURE

My friends and I took a short walk around the spacious pre-departure area of Taipei Taoyuan International Airport before settling near our assigned boarding gate.

A few minutes before the scheduled boarding time, the ground staff announced a slight delay, moving boarding to 10:00 a.m. We waited at the Gate C7 pre-departure area until boarding began.

BOARDING

EVA Air boards passengers by zones. At exactly 10:00 a.m., the ground crew began priority boarding with business class passengers and elite status holders. They were followed by those in premium economy and then economy passengers seated toward the rear of the cabin.

Our group, Group 5, was among the last to board. During the process, the staff did not check passports; they only scanned boarding passes. The aircraft doors were closed at 10:19 a.m., completing boarding in just 19 minutes.

Departure was delayed as the control tower assigned us a later takeoff slot. While waiting, the cabin crew went around offering water to passengers. The aircraft finally pushed back at 11:12 a.m., nearly an hour after the doors had closed, and began taxiing to the runway.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Taipei to Los Angeles flight was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER that was 8.7 years old at the time of the flight. The aircraft had 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 56 recliner-style premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 standard economy seats arranged in a 3-3-3 setup.

According to our friends at SeatGuru, each lie-flat business class (Royal Laurel Class) seat offers a seat pitch of 81 inches and a seat width of 26 inches. All seats come equipped with a 15.4-inch touchscreen display with remote control, multiple storage compartments, a footrest, a universal power outlet, USB-A ports, a side console, noise-cancelling headphones, an individual reading light, and, most importantly, aisle access.

Each premium economy class seat provides a seat pitch of 38 inches, a seat width of 19.3 inches, and a recline of 5 inches. Amenities include an 11-inch touchscreen system with remote control, an adjustable headrest, thick seatback padding, a bi-fold tray table, a universal power outlet, an individual USB-A port, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight literature.

Economy class seats offer a seat pitch of 31 to 32 inches, a seat width of 17 inches, and a recline of 3 inches. Each seat features a 10-inch touchscreen system, a bi-fold tray table, an adjustable headrest, a leg rest, an individual USB-A port, shared universal power outlets, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight safety cards and magazines. Notably, this aircraft does not have individual air vents.

For this flight, I chose middle aisle seat 46G in the forward economy cabin. The seat was comfortable enough for the nearly 12-hour transpacific journey. It came with a small pillow, a blanket, and headphones, and offered decent legroom and recline. I managed to sleep for about four hours. The only feature I wished it had was an individual air nozzle, although the cabin remained cool throughout the flight.

INFLIGHT MEAL SERVICE

EVA Air serves complimentary meals on all its flights. For this long-haul sector to Los Angeles, two main meals were provided: lunch and breakfast, with unlimited snacks in between.

Lunch service began shortly after we reached cruising altitude. The crew first distributed mixed nuts, rice crackers, and a drink of choice as starters. Once the initial service was complete, they returned with the main meal trays.

For the main course, passengers could choose between Creamy Mushroom Seafood Spaghetti or Kanpai BBQ Karubi with Steamed Rice. Each tray also included Black Pepper Duck with Ricotta Cheese as an appetizer, seasonal fruits, Pistachio Panna Cotta for dessert, a bread roll with butter, and a drink of choice. Meals were served on trays with metal cutlery, a napkin, and a sanitizing wipe. During the meal service, the crew came around offering coffee or tea, followed by bottled water for each passenger.

About two hours before landing, breakfast was served. The options were Savory Porridge with Minced Chicken, Wolfberry, and Barley or Omelette with Chive Cream Sauce and Pork Sausage. Breakfast came with yogurt, seasonal fruits, fish floss with jam, a bread roll, and a drink of choice. Like the earlier meal, it was served with metal cutlery, a napkin, and a wipe. A second round of coffee and tea was also offered.

Between meals, the crew frequently went around the cabin with snacks such as mixed nuts, chips, and crackers, along with water and juice. Midway through the flight, they also served a hot Fried Pork Chop and Cheese Sandwich with drinks to passengers who were awake. Additional snacks and drinks were available in the galley throughout the journey.

I chose the BBQ with rice for lunch and the omelette with sausage for breakfast, pairing both with apple juice. Each meal was filling, and I never felt hungry at any point during the almost 12-hour flight. I also noticed that EVA Air had ample cabin crew onboard, which made the service smooth and efficient. The team went around several times with drinks and snacks, keeping passengers well taken care of for the entire flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All seats on this Boeing 777-300ER were equipped with touchscreen personal entertainment screens featuring EVA Air’s Starhill Gallery. The system offers hundreds of movies, TV shows, music albums, games, and other content to keep passengers entertained throughout the flight. It also includes an inflight map with the aircraft’s current location and detailed flight information. On this particular aircraft, the map was available but not interactive.

During the flight to Los Angeles, I finished the Thai movie How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, which I had started on the Manila to Taipei leg. I also watched Wicked, although I spent most of the time simply following the progress of our journey on the inflight map.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

This aircraft was equipped with inflight wireless internet. At the time of the flight, EVA Air provided all passengers with 30 minutes of complimentary access at the time of the flight. After the free period, paid internet plans were available, ranging from US$4.95 to US$39.95 depending on the package.

I used the complimentary access midway through the flight. The connection speed was decent and good enough to exchange messages with family and friends in both the Philippines and Los Angeles. I chose not to purchase a plan since I did not find it necessary for the rest of the flight.

LAVATORY

I used the forward economy class lavatories several times during the flight and noticed that the cabin crew always kept them clean and fragrant. Despite frequent use, the facilities were well-maintained throughout the journey.

In addition to the basic amenities, EVA Air provided Teaology-branded handwash, hand sanitizer, facial mist, and moisturizer for passengers to use. Toothbrushes were also available upon request from the crew.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this Taipei to Los Angeles flight were quick, efficient, and attentive. They greeted passengers warmly during boarding, served water while we waited for pushback, and managed the lunch and breakfast services with ease. They also ensured the lavatories remained clean and fresh throughout the flight. In addition, the lead crew kept everyone updated with clear announcements, making sure passengers were informed at every stage of the journey.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Flight BR 6 landed at Los Angeles International Airport at 8:09 a.m. local time, arriving 1 hour and 19 minutes behind schedule. We taxied to the Tom Bradley International Terminal for disembarkation.

Passengers deplaned by section, starting with business class, followed by the forward economy cabin, and finally those seated in the rear. Immigration, baggage claim, and customs clearance took less than an hour. Our luggage was already on the carousel by the time we reached the arrival hall, making the process quick and seamless.

Flight Experience

It was a memorable first-ever transpacific flight with EVA Air from Taipei, Taiwan to Los Angeles, California, USA. I thoroughly enjoyed this long-haul flight even if I only had a few hours of sleep. Allow me to share what I liked and disliked on this flight.

Let us start with the positives. First, my friends and I got a good deal for the ticket price. We paid only ₱42,276.32 each for a four-sector journey with layovers in Taipei both ways. The flights took place during one of the busiest travel periods in the Philippines, the Holy Week, so the fare was definitely a steal.

Second, I had my fastest transit experience at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, which took less than ten minutes from the time we stepped into the terminal building. Third, the ground crew managed to board all 300 passengers in just 19 minutes. Talk about efficiency!

Fourth, EVA Air kept the aircraft modern and well-maintained despite it being almost nine years old. Fifth, the airline served two hearty and tasty meals during the flight, while also keeping passengers full and hydrated with snacks and drinks offered periodically.

Sixth, EVA Air provided 30 minutes of complimentary internet access to all passengers, a nice gesture on a long-haul journey. Seventh, the economy class lavatories were kept clean and fragrant throughout the flight. Lastly, the cabin crew were outstanding. I was impressed at how quickly they completed the meal services while still being attentive and professional. Bravo!

This flight was not all wins, though. It had its fair share of areas for improvement. First, the flight was delayed by a little over an hour due to runway congestion in Taipei, which led to both a late departure from Taiwan and a delayed arrival in Los Angeles.

Second, while the inflight entertainment system had decent options for a long-haul flight, it was not at par with competitors such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific. Lastly, the inflight map was not interactive, so I could only glance at it during the flight.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall experience was excellent. EVA Air delivered a comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable transpacific journey, and I would not hesitate to fly with them again.

Allow me to provide a summary of this EVA Air BR 6 flight from Taipei to Los Angeles:

Airline: EVA Air
Flight Date: 12 April 2025
Flight Number: BR 6
Route: Taipei, Taiwan (TPE) to Los Angeles, California, USA (LAX)
Duration: 11 hours and 41 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 46G (Aisle)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-36N(ER)
Aircraft Registration: B-16728
Engines: 2 x General Electric GE90-115B Engines
Age: 8.7-years-old
Delivered: July 2016

All in all, this flight with EVA Air was a great start to my transpacific travel experience. From efficient service to thoughtful touches in comfort and hospitality, it truly set the bar high for future long-haul flights.

Have you flown with EVA Air before? I would love to hear about your experiences! Feel free to share your stories and thoughts in the comments. You can also send your stories via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Cathay Pacific. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I’d really appreciate it if you could like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This helps expand my reach and keeps you updated with the latest blog posts, itineraries, Hostel of the Day features, and flight reports on the website. Thanks again, and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Flight Report: EVA AIR BR 262 – Manila to Taipei – Enjoying a Complimentary Premium Economy Seat En Route to the United States [April 2025]

In April 2025, my friends and I flew to Los Angeles, California for a quick Holy Week trip to the United States. We had been planning this getaway since mid-2024, and we were thrilled that it finally came to life. For this journey, we chose to fly with one of the world’s best airlines – EVA Air.

A few years ago, I launched the flight reports section of this website with a review of EVA Air flight BR 277 from Taipei to Manila. Six years later, I found myself flying with EVA again, this time, all the way to the United States.

Join me as I take you through the first leg of our trip onboard flight BR 262 from Manila to Taipei. Keep reading to find out how my friends and I scored complimentary premium economy class seats on this short-haul hop to Taiwan.

EVA Air

EVA Air is a privately owned international airline based at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. It was founded in March 1989 by Chang Yung-fa, the Chairman of the Evergreen Group, and began commercial operations in July 1991, initially serving selected destinations in Southeast Asia and South Korea. Fast forward to 2025, the airline now flies to nearly 60 destinations across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America, operating a fleet of more than 80 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with around 50 additional aircraft on order.

Over the years, EVA Air has expanded beyond its core passenger airline business. It launched its dedicated cargo division, EVA Air Cargo, and has since ventured into airline catering, ground handling, and aviation engineering services. The airline also owns UNI Air, a Kaohsiung-based subsidiary that operates domestic flights within Taiwan and regional routes to destinations like Macau and China.

EVA Air is a world-renowned five-star full-service airline. It offers complimentary checked baggage allowance, meals and snacks, inflight entertainment systems, and premium onboard amenities. As a proud member of the Star Alliance network, EVA partners with leading global carriers such as Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, and many more. It also operates a frequent flyer program called Infinity MileageLands.

Airfare & Inclusions

In August 2024, EVA Air launched a promotional fare across most of its routes, offering discounted tickets for customers who used a local bank’s credit card (RCBC) as their mode of payment. My friends and I took advantage of this deal and booked our tickets exactly nine months ahead of our intended departure. We paid just $709.76 for a round-trip ticket, which was charged by RCBC at ₱42,276.32, including foreign transaction service fees.

This fare covered all four legs of our journey: Manila to Taipei (this flight), Taipei to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Taipei, and finally, Taipei to Manila. The ticket also included a generous baggage allowance of two 23-kilogram checked bags per passenger (46 kilograms total), 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage, inflight meals on all sectors, a personal inflight entertainment system on every aircraft, and the consistently world-class service delivered by EVA Air’s cabin crew.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days, provided they have proof of accommodation and sufficient travel funds. As of July 2025, this visa-free entry policy has been extended until July 31, 2026.

In my case, since my onward destination was Los Angeles, California, I also needed to comply with the United States entry requirements. Philippine passport holders are required to secure a B1/B2 or B2 visitor visa to enter the United States for tourism or leisure purposes. I obtained my B1/B2 non-immigrant visitor visa in December 2023 and shared my do-it-yourself application experience in one of my Tuesday Tips blog posts. You can check it out here.

Additionally, the Philippine government requires all departing passengers to complete an online departure form and obtain a departure QR code from the eTravel website.

Before The Flight

A week before our flight, EVA Air sent an email offering an upgrade to premium economy class through its EVABidDeal program. This feature allowed me to place a bid for a premium economy seat starting at a set minimum amount. Four days before departure, the airline followed up with another bidding invitation.

Then, 48 hours before the flight, EVA Air sent a reminder that online check-in was open. The message included key details such as flight schedule, cabin and seat assignment, baggage allowance, and aircraft type. I filled out the required information, selected my seat, and checked in for our flight to Taipei right away.

While checking in online, I noticed that EVA Air had opened their premium economy class seats free of charge. I quickly selected seat 20K—a premium economy bulkhead window seat—and immediately informed my friends. They were able to secure seats 20A and 20C, also in the premium economy cabin. Thank you, EVA Air, for making this section available during online check-in at no extra cost.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Our Manila to Taipei flight with EVA Air was operated by a 10.9-year-old Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (at the time of the flight). Delivered to the airline in May 2014, the aircraft is registered as B-16719. It features 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 56 recliner-style premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 standard economy class seats arranged in a 3-3-3 setup.

Flight BR 262 departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:19 a.m., cruised at an altitude of 39,000 feet, and landed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 8:00 a.m. local time. There is no time difference between Manila and Taipei. The total flight time was 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Airport & Ground Experience

At the time of our flight, EVA Air operated three daily flights between Manila and Taipei, all departing from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

I arrived at the airport shortly after 2:00 a.m. and went straight to pay the mandatory travel tax. I met up with my friends, and we joined the online check-in queue at 2:15 a.m. EVA Air operates three separate check-in lines: one dedicated to business class passengers and status holders, with two counters open; a second line for bag drop, essentially for passengers who have already checked in online, with three counters open; and finally, the regular economy class line with two counters open.

Interestingly, the regular economy check-in line moved faster than the bag drop queue, which took a frustratingly long time. We were only able to drop our bags an hour later at 3:18 a.m. and completed the entire process by 3:27 a.m. The ground staff took extra time to check in my friend, who holds dual citizenship and traveled with a US passport.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After completing check-in, we quickly cleared immigration and security and headed straight to the lounge. The PAGGS Terminal 1 Lounge was full, so we opted for the Marhaba Lounge instead. We enjoyed breakfast there while waiting for our boarding time.

I accessed the lounge using my Security Bank Platinum credit card. However, effective May 26, 2026, Security Bank removed this perk for this card type. Now, only World and Corporate credit card holders have complimentary access to these lounges. The Platinum card still includes two annual lounge credits through Mastercard Travel Pass, which can also be used to access these NAIA lounges.

BOARDING

At 5:00 a.m., my friends and I left the Marhaba Lounge and headed straight to Gate 5. Shortly after, at 5:07 a.m., the ground staff announced priority boarding. Passengers traveling in business class and status holders boarded first, followed by those with infants, small children, and senior citizens. The remaining passengers were then called to board according to their assigned zones.

The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors at 5:49 a.m., completing the entire boarding process in 42 minutes. Although the plane’s pushback was delayed by a few minutes, the crew promptly communicated the delay in both English and Chinese. The aircraft finally pushed back at 6:00 a.m. and began taxiing to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Taipei EVA Air flight was operated by a 10.9-year-old Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. It features 39 lie-flat business class seats arranged in a reverse-herringbone 1-2-1 configuration, 56 recliner premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, and 238 regular economy seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement.

According to our friends at SeatGuru, each lie-flat business class (Royal Laurel Class) seat offers a seat pitch of 81 inches and a seat width of 26 inches. All seats come equipped with a 15.4-inch touchscreen display with remote control, multiple storage compartments, a footrest, a universal power outlet, USB-A ports, a side console, noise-cancelling headphones, an individual reading light, and, most importantly, aisle access.

Each premium economy class seat provides a seat pitch of 38 inches, a seat width of 19.3 inches, and a recline of 5 inches. Amenities include an 11-inch touchscreen system with remote control, an adjustable headrest, thick seatback padding, a bi-fold tray table, a universal power outlet, an individual USB-A port, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight literature.

Economy class seats offer a seat pitch of 31 to 32 inches, a seat width of 17 inches, and a recline of 3 inches. Each seat features a 10-inch touchscreen system, a bi-fold tray table, an adjustable headrest, a leg rest, an individual USB-A port, shared universal power outlets, an individual reading light, earphones, and inflight safety cards and magazines. Notably, this aircraft does not have individual air vents.

For my flight, I chose window seat 20K in the premium economy cabin and was fortunate to have both seats 20H and 20K to myself. The premium economy seat is spacious and very comfortable. The thick seatback padding and leg rest, combined with generous recline, made it incredibly easy to relax and even sleep. I was lucky to experience this comfort free of charge—thank you, EVA Air!

INFLIGHT MEAL SERVICE

EVA Air serves inflight meals on all their flights. On our flight to Taipei, passengers had one breakfast option: Cream Dory with Adobo Butter Egg Fried Rice. The main course was accompanied by Cajun Chicken with Waldorf Salad, a fruit bowl, a cup for the second drink service, and a bottle of water. Additional beverages such as juice, soda, and alcoholic drinks were available upon request. Meals were served on trays and included metal cutlery, a napkin, and wipes. During the meal service, the cabin crew made rounds offering coffee or tea to those who wanted.

The meal portions were decent. While the cream dory was slightly dry, the salad was flavorful and enjoyable. I especially appreciated that EVA Air served everything on trays and provided metal cutlery for a more premium dining experience. I want to commend EVA Air for offering a full meal service even on this short hop to Taipei.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Every seat on this aircraft is equipped with a personal entertainment screen featuring EVA Air’s Star Gallery. The airline’s inflight entertainment system offers hundreds of movies, TV shows, albums, games, and other content for passengers to enjoy throughout the flight. It also includes an interactive inflight map that displays the current flight location and detailed flight information.

During the journey to Taipei, I watched part of the Thai movie How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. Although I could not finish it due to the short flight time, I was able to continue watching it on the onward flight to Los Angeles.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The aircraft used for this Manila to Taipei flight was equipped with inflight wireless internet. All passengers were granted 30 minutes of complimentary internet access. Beyond the free period, passengers could purchase internet plans ranging from US$4.95 to US$39.95.

I took advantage of the free 30-minute access and found the internet speed to be acceptable. Given the short duration of the flight, I did not see the need to purchase any additional internet plans.

LAVATORY

I visited the middle section lavatory and found it to be spotlessly clean. In addition to the usual amenities, EVA Air provided Teaology-branded handwash, hand sanitizer, facial mist, and moisturizer for all passengers to use during the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent, warm, friendly, and attentive. They served with genuine smiles and positive energy throughout the journey. One thing I particularly noticed was their attention to detail. They announced every delay, whether it was five minutes or twenty, over the public address system in both English and Chinese. The crew made sure all passengers were fully informed of any delays experienced during the flight.

Disembarkation & TRANSIT

Flight BR 252 touched down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport five minutes ahead of schedule. However, the landing was initially delayed by around 20 minutes due to runway congestion. After landing, we taxied to our assigned bus gate.

Passengers disembarked by section, with business class passengers exiting first, followed by those in the front economy section, and finally, passengers seated in the rear economy class. All passengers were then transported by bus to the airport terminal for immigration or transfer.

My friends and I did not clear Taiwan immigration. Instead, we proceeded to the transit area, cleared security, and made our way to the departures hall for my connecting flight to Los Angeles.

Flight Experience

It was an incredible flight experience on EVA Air in their premium economy seat on this flight from Manila to Taipei.

The journey stood out in many ways. First, the ticket cost was quite affordable, especially considering it coincided with one of the busiest travel periods in the Philippines during Holy Week. My friends and I paid only ₱42,276.32 each for a four-sector journey with layovers in Taipei, Taiwan both ways.

Second, EVA Air offered complimentary upgrades to premium economy seats during online check-in. My friends and I quickly grabbed the opportunity and enjoyed the generous space and legroom on this flight. Third, while the aircraft was a little over a decade old, the cabins remained modern, clean, and well maintained.

Fourth, the cabin crew were friendly, attentive, and approachable. They made sure passengers were kept informed, even about a slight five-minute delay. Fifth, a full meal was served complete with appetizer and dessert despite the flight being under two hours. The chicken and apple salad was phenomenal, and the use of metal cutlery was a nice touch.

Sixth, EVA Air offered complimentary 30-minute onboard internet access to all passengers. It is rare to see this level of service provided to everyone regardless of class or frequent flyer status. Lastly, the aircraft lavatories were impressively stocked with amenities such as hand wash, hand sanitizer, facial mist, and moisturizer which was quite impressive for a flight of this duration. No wonder EVA Air consistently earns its five-star rating.

Of course, no flight is without room for improvement. First, the bag drop process at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 was frustratingly slow. Despite having only two counters open, the regular economy check-in line moved faster than the bag drop queue. We waited over an hour just to check our bags.

Second, the fish in the main dish was slightly dry, though the overall meal was still enjoyable.

Despite these minor setbacks, this was an exceptional flight experience with EVA Air. I look forward to flying with EVA again in the future.

Allow me to provide a summary of this EVA Air BR 262 flight from Manila to Taipei.

Airline: EVA Air
Flight Date: 12 April 2025
Flight Number: BR 262
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Taipei, Taiwan (TPE)
Duration: 1 hour and 41 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 20K (Window)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-36N(ER)
Aircraft Registration: B-16719
Engines: 2 x General Electric GE90-115B Engines
Age: 10.9-years-old
Delivered: May 2014

Overall, this flight with EVA Air was a smooth and enjoyable start to our trip. From the comfortable seats to the attentive crew and thoughtful amenities, it truly set the tone for a great journey ahead.

Have you flown with EVA Air before? I would love to hear about your experiences! Feel free to share your stories and thoughts in the comments. You can also send your stories via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Cathay Pacific. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I’d really appreciate it if you could like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This helps expand my reach and keeps you updated with the latest blog posts, itineraries, Hostel of the Day features, and flight reports on the website. Thanks again, and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 592 – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Manila – A Taste of PAL’s Regional Widebody Service with a Last-Minute Equipment Swap [February 2025]

Last February, my friends and I flew to the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, for a quick 3-day, 3-night trip. We immersed ourselves in the city’s history at the War Remnants Museum, shopped at Ben Thanh Market, hopped between coffee shops, and savored healthy local cuisine at various restaurants. Like all good things, our trip eventually came to an end.

For this journey, we flew with the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines. Previously, I shared how our Manila to Ho Chi Minh City flight went and I thought it was a good one. Today, I would like to tell you how we unexpectedly ended up flying the airline’s regional widebody service due to a last-minute equipment swap. Read on to find out what it was like to fly Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A330 on a short-haul flight back to Manila.

Last year (August 2024), I flew to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for five days and five nights. I wrote about this trip, sharing details about our accommodation, itinerary, and day tours. I also listed the cafes and restaurants we visited during the trip. I hope you’ll check out the trip blog here.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines, commonly known as PAL, is the Philippines’ flag carrier. The airline began operations in 1941 and is currently the region’s oldest commercial airline. It is part of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies and is also partly owned by ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways.

Philippine Airlines operates a fleet of nearly 50 Airbus, Boeing, and De Havilland aircraft, serving over 70 domestic and international destinations across Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East. The airline has a wholly owned subsidiary, PAL Express, which operates its domestic regional routes. PAL flies out of its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao.

PAL is the country’s largest full-service airline, offering a premium experience to its passengers. It provides business class, premium economy, and economy class on most of its routes. Although it is not a member of any airline alliance, it has codeshare agreements with major carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, and many others.

The airline also offers a lifestyle and loyalty program called Mabuhay Miles. It is the only Philippine-based carrier to receive a 4-star rating from the world-renowned air transport rating organization Skytrax. Philippine Airlines is known for its warm and heartfelt hospitality, which is uniquely rooted in Filipino culture.

In October 2024, I flew with Philippine Airlines’ Domestic Comfort Class from Manila to Daraga (Legazpi) via Cebu. It is the airline’s domestic premium economy product. Curious about the comfort class experience? Check out these flight reports: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2853 – Manila to Cebu – First PAL Domestic Comfort Class Experience – Was the Last-Minute Booking Worth It? [October 2024] & PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2927 – Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi) – Domestic Comfort Class Experience on a Turboprop Aircraft [October 2024].

Airfare & Inclusions

In September 2024, I came across a promotional fare to Saigon offered by Philippine Airlines. I told my friends about it and before I knew it, we all had tickets. We got our return tickets for $149.80 or ₱8,478.14, including foreign transaction and service fees.

The ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 30 kilograms of checked baggage, complimentary middle and window seat selection, wireless inflight entertainment, inflight meals on every flight, and the friendly service from the PAL crew.

Although the ticket was still more expensive compared to a ₱1 base fare ticket from rival Cebu Pacific Air, it was affordable for an airline like Philippine Airlines. It may not have been a cheap ticket, but it was definitely reasonable given what was included.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Philippine passport holders only need to present a valid passport and their eTravel QR code when entering the country. Non-Philippine passport holders may be asked to show additional documents, such as a valid visa or proof of onward travel. Entry requirements vary depending on nationality, so it is always a good idea to check with the relevant authorities for the latest information before your trip.

Before The Flight

A week before our flight, Philippine Airlines sent an email offering two optional upgrades: myPAL Upgrade and myPAL Seat Select Neighbor-Free. The first allowed us to bid for a business class seat starting at a minimum amount, while the second let us block the neighboring seat for a fixed fee. The airline sent another business class bidding invitation four days before departure.

Then, 24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email advising that online check-in was now available. The message also included important requirements and airport reminders for the flight. That was when I found out there was a last-minute equipment swap. Our aircraft was changed from an Airbus A321 to an Airbus A330 widebody. I immediately filled out all the necessary details, chose a new window seat, and checked in for the flight back to Manila, Philippines.

About two hours before departure, Philippine Airlines sent a final email advising that the flight might not have personal entertainment screens. Instead, wireless inflight entertainment would be available onboard, along with instructions on how to use the system.

A massive thank you to Philippine Airlines for keeping passengers well informed about the details of the upcoming flight.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Manila flight on Philippine Airlines was originally scheduled to be operated by an Airbus A321-231 aircraft. Just days before the flight, the airline swapped it for an Airbus A330-343E widebody. This 11.4-year-old aircraft is registered as RP-C8783.

Delivered to the airline in November 2013, the Airbus A330 features 18 lie-flat business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, 24 premium economy recliner seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, and 267 regular economy seats also in a 2-4-2 setup.

Flight PR 592 took off from Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 9:38 a.m. local time, cruised at an altitude of 33,000 feet, and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:58 p.m. local time. There is a one-hour time difference between Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, with Manila being an hour ahead. The entire flight lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. This flight is a codeshare with Vietnam Airlines.

In case you missed it, I flew with Vietnam Airlines last January 2023 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on the Airbus A350 business class. I wrote about this trip and I hope you can check it out here.

Airport & Ground Experience

Philippine Airlines operates out of Terminal 2, the international terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

My friends and I arrived at the airport a few minutes after 6:30 a.m. Philippine Airlines has separate lines for business class passengers and status holders, economy passengers who checked in online, and regular economy class passengers.

We lined up for bag drop at 6:37 a.m. and finished by 7:14 a.m. The online check-in line moved slower than expected. After getting our boarding passes, we cleared immigration and security. The entire check-in process took 37 minutes.

ROSE BUSINESS LOUNGE

After clearing immigration and security, I stopped by the Rose Business Lounge for breakfast. I used my RCBC JCB Platinum LoungeKey entitlement to access the lounge.

The lounge offered a good selection of food and drinks, including some local dishes. It was quite crowded during my visit, but I still managed to find a seat.

BOARDING

The boarding process began at 8:49 a.m., starting with business class passengers, status holders, and priority passengers. Regular economy class passengers were then called to board by row.

By 9:12 a.m., the cabin crew had closed the aircraft doors, completing the entire boarding process in just 23 minutes. The plane pushed back at 9:23 a.m. and started taxiing to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Manila flight on Philippine Airlines was operated by an 11.4-year-old Airbus A330-343E aircraft. The cabin features 18 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 24 premium economy recliner seats arranged 2-3-2, and 267 regular economy seats also in a 2-4-2 configuration.

According to the airline’s website, each business class seat offers a pitch of 44 inches, a width of up to 24 inches, and reclines fully flat into a bed. Premium economy seats provide a pitch of 34 inches, a width of 19.5 inches, and an 8-inch recline. Regular economy seats have a pitch of 32 inches, a width of 18 inches, and a 6-inch recline.

All seats are equipped with personal entertainment screens. Business class seats feature 18.5-inch screens, premium economy seats have 13.3-inch screens, and economy seats come with 10.1-inch screens. Business and premium economy seats include USB ports and AC/DC power outlets, while economy seats have USB ports only.

Every economy seat also has an adjustable headrest, a headset, a tray table, a seatback pocket containing the safety card, an individual reading light, and a cabin crew call button. This aircraft does not have individual air vents. Before takeoff, the cabin crew offered blankets to passengers upon request.

I was seated in 57K for this short flight back to Manila. I found the seat spacious and comfortable. With the personal entertainment screen, I am confident I could easily handle a medium to long-haul flight in this seat.

INFLIGHT MEAL SERVICE

Philippine Airlines provides inflight meals on its international routes. On our flight to Manila, passengers were given a choice between two main dishes: beef curry with rice or fish with rice. The meal also included a small pack of dried mangoes, a bottle of water, and a beverage of choice. Meals were served individually rather than on trays and came with wooden cutlery and a napkin. After the meal, the cabin crew made another pass through the cabin, offering coffee, tea, or water to those interested.

I chose the beef option and paired it with a glass of apple juice. The meal was decent, though nothing extraordinary. Like the meal on our Manila to Saigon flight, the main dish was not quite to my liking. I have tried better inflight meals on Philippine Airlines, but I’m still grateful that the airline served a meal on this two-hour flight back to Manila.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All seats on this aircraft are equipped with personal entertainment screens. Economy class seats feature a 10.1-inch screen installed in front of every seat. At the time of the flight, Philippine Airlines’ entertainment system offered 79 movies, 110 music albums, and 128 television show episodes.

This selection is more than enough for a short hop back to Manila. While the options may not be as extensive as those on Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, or Emirates, they are certainly sufficient for a medium to long-haul flight with Philippine Airlines. The screen was a touchscreen and responded well to input.

One thing to note: the inflight map, which is my favorite feature on any personal entertainment system, was not functional during this flight. How unfortunate.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

At the time of the flight, Philippine Airlines did not offer inflight connectivity on this route to Manila.

LAVATORY

My seatmate was asleep for most of the flight, which allowed me to leave my seat and visit the lavatory.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was adequate, though nothing particularly remarkable or outstanding. The crew did their job well, ensuring that all passengers followed inflight safety protocols and procedures.

Disembarkation

The aircraft touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport ahead of schedule, landing at 12:58 p.m. local time. It then taxied to NAIA Terminal 1 for disembarkation.

The cabin crew announced an orderly disembarkation by row for economy class passengers, but some passengers did not follow this. Most stood up as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off.

Immigration, baggage claim, and customs took around 30 minutes from the time we stepped off the aircraft.

Flight Experience

It was an exciting flight with Philippine Airlines, from the reasonable airfare to the last-minute equipment swap to an Airbus A330 widebody aircraft. Allow me to summarize my flight experience with our country’s flag carrier. The flight had its standouts as well as its misses.

Let us start with the standouts. First, the return airfare was affordable compared to the usual Philippine Airlines fares. It was also reasonable considering it included 30 kilograms of checked luggage, personal entertainment screens, and a hot meal service.

Second, Philippine Airlines was proactive in sending multiple emails to inform passengers about upgrade offers and flight requirements. The airline even sent an email advising that our flight might not feature personal entertainment screens even though it ultimately did.

Third, the last-minute equipment swap worked in my favor, allowing me to experience flying on a widebody aircraft on a regional route. It was a true full-service PAL experience and definitely more enjoyable than flying on a single-aisle plane.

Fourth, props to the airline for serving a hot meal on this roughly two-hour flight back to Manila. Lastly, the personal entertainment screens made a significant difference in the overall flight experience.

Now for the misses. The check-in process took longer than expected, 37 minutes compared to the quick check-in on our Manila to Ho Chi Minh City flight. Second, the cabin did not feature individual air vents. This is a personal preference, but I like having control over the airflow at my seat.

Third, the main beef meal was just okay, nothing special and not quite to my liking. I have had better meals on Philippine Airlines before. Lastly, my favorite inflight entertainment feature, the inflight map, did not work throughout the flight. The aviation geek in me was disappointed not being able to track our journey back to the Philippines.

Despite these misses, I thoroughly enjoyed this flight with Philippine Airlines and will certainly fly with them again in the future. I hope to try their Airbus A350 aircraft next time.

Allow me to provide a summary of this PR 592 flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Manila.

Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Date: 25 February 2025
Flight Number: PR 591
Route: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam (SGN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 57K (Window)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343E
Aircraft Registration: RP-C8783
Engines: 2 x Rolls Royce Trent 772B-60 Engines
Age: 11.4-years-old
Delivered: November 2013

That wraps up my experience flying Philippine Airlines on PR 592 from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) back to Manila.

If you have recently flown with PAL, I would love to hear about your journey! Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below. For any questions about the airline or this route, you can leave a comment or get in touch via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com. I am always happy to connect and help however I can!

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Qantas, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Cathay Pacific. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I’d really appreciate it if you could like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This helps expand my reach and keeps you updated with the latest blog posts, itineraries, Hostel of the Day features, and flight reports on the website. Thanks again, and see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.